In a major move to reduce the spread of HIV among young people, the Ghana AIDS Commission has teamed up with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to raise awareness and provide education on HIV/AIDS.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week to officially begin their partnership. The goal is to reach more young people across the country with accurate information about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, officials from both the Ghana AIDS Commission and YEA said they are deeply concerned about the rising number of HIV cases among the youth. Many young people, they said, either do not have enough information about the disease or hold harmful misconceptions that put them at risk.
Through this new partnership, the YEA will help train its staff and beneficiaries on HIV education and make sure that young people enrolled in its programs get the right knowledge to protect themselves and others. They will also use their network to spread messages about safe sex practices, regular testing, and ending stigma against people living with HIV.
The Ghana AIDS Commission will provide technical support, including training materials and expert guidance.
This collaboration is seen as a bold step towards achieving Ghana’s goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Young people make up a large portion of Ghana’s population, and experts believe that educating them is key to reducing new infections and building a healthier future.